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WILLMAR, Minn. – In a packed Kandiyohi County courtroom Thursday morning, Nov. 8, two suspects were arraigned in connection with the death of David Medellin Jr., 24, of Willmar. Caleb Aaron Blue, 35, of Willmar, was charged with one count of second-degree murder – with intent – not premeditated for allegedly causing the death of Medellin sometime between Oct. 25 and Oct. 31.

WILLMAR, Minn. – The people who knew and loved David Medellin Jr. say the 24-year-old Willmar man was happy, helpful and always had a smile on his face. “He was so kind to people,” said Medellin’s mother, Yesenia Alonzo, of Willmar. “He would go out of his way to help people. He loved people.” Medellin’s fiancee, Felicia Rodriguez, had similar words.

WILLMAR, Minn. — Two years ago Dave Hughes — a Republican with very little name recognition and less than $20,000 in campaign money — came surprisingly close to defeating longtime U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson in the sprawling 7th Congressional District. This year — with more money and campaign moxie — Hughes said he's even more confident he'll win. He said if President Trump would visit the district to rally for him, he would win by "double digits" over Peterson.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – A Paynesville man was sentenced Thursday, Oct. 4, to two consecutive life sentences for intentionally killing his grandparents this spring at their home in Paynesville. Gregory Allen Scheel, 34, will serve at least 60 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. Scheel was convicted of killing Wilbert Scheel, 93, and Gloria Scheel, 80, on March 21 at the home the three shared in Paynesville. Their bodies were found in a vehicle in northern Kandiyohi County.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — A Paynesville man pleaded guilty Thursday morning, Aug. 2, in Stearns County District Court to killing his grandparents at the home they shared in Paynesville. According to the Stearns County Attorney's office, Gregory Allen Scheel, 34, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder in the first degree for intentionally killing 93-year-old Wilbert Scheel and 80-year-old Gloria Scheel on March 21. Scheel was committed to prison following the plea. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

MONTEVIDEO — A man is dead and a woman wounded after a shooting shortly before noon Tuesday in Montevideo. According to the Montevideo Police Department, David Dale Schwartz, 55, of Foley, was dead at the scene at 103 South Fourth St. in Montevideo. Angela Marie Haugerud, 41, was wounded and taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with unknown injuries.

WILLMAR, Minn.—Efforts were underway Friday morning, July 6, to move a bog on Norway Lake in northern Kandiyohi County. The bog is currently impeding boat traffic through the channel between Games Lake and Norway Lake, north of Willmar. A floating bog estimated to be the size of a football field had first entered the narrow channel between the two popular recreational lakes in 2016. Last month, a crew led by Kevin Lundberg was able to remove a 20- to 30-foot-wide section of the bog to create an opening wide enough to allow passage by some boats.

WILLMAR, Minn. — Federal weapons charges have been filed against a Willmar man who had been set to face a jury trial on similar charges later this month in Kandiyohi County. Chad Monson, 46, made an initial appearance Tuesday afternoon, June 12, in U.S. District Court in St. Paul on 18 federal charges, including possession of machine guns, possession of machine guns with obliterated serial numbers, possession of unregistered destructive devices described as pipe bombs and possession of unregistered silencers.

SPICER, Minn. — A historic Spicer community landmark that operates as a restaurant and bed and breakfast on the southeast shore of Green Lake is closing and is for sale. The change could bring an end to the 123-year ownership of the Spicer Castle by the family of the man who built the structure and helped found the town that bears his name. "This is the last season the Spicer Castle will be open," said Mary Latham, a fourth-generation member of the John M. Spicer family who has owned the classic old lake home since 1895.